BELIZE WINS GOLD MEDAL AT COSTA RICA, CENTRAL AMERICAN GAMES

Belize's Medwood crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the men's 400m hurdles final at the Central American Games in San Jose March | View photo - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

GUATEMALA UNVEILS MORE OF A TREACHEROUS ATTACK ON BELIZE.

GUATEMALA REVERSES JOINT ECONOMIC PROGRESS BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA. 

 NEW GOVERNMENT IN GUATEMALA UNVEILS A SNEAK ATTACK ON BELIZE BOUNDARIES AND SOVEREIGNTY, IN DEFIANCE OF UNITED NATIONS ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION BACK IN 1982, WHEN THE UNITED NATIONS GUARANTEE OF SELF DETERMINATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF BELIZE WAS DONE BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE.  ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER ON FORMER WORLD COLONIES OF ANCIENT EUROPEAN IMPERIAL EXPANSION AROUND THE WORLD.

  A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME ON INVASION, APPROPIATION AND CONQUEST HAS BEEN UNLEASHED BY THE NEW PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA, ON THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE.

  BELIZEANS SHOCKED AND DISMAYED BY THIS TREACHERY! 

 THE LAST 20 YEARS HAVE SEEN PEACEFUL AND GROWING TIES OF ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE.   NEW GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT UNVEILS DROP BY DROP, A REVERSAL OF PARTNERSHIP AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION.  

HAS THE PAST 20 YEARS AND PEACEFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE BEEN ALL FOR NOTHING?  DO WE IN BELIZE HAVE TO TOLERATE SUCH EVIL TREACHEROUS BEHAVIOR BY THE CHANGING WINDS OF POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP IN GUATEMALA.

  ALL BELIZE WANTS, IS AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AS FRIENDS, ACROSS OUR AGREED UPON 1859 TREATY BORDER, SET BY GUATEMALA AT THAT TIME WITH THE FORMER BRITISH COLONY - BRITISH HONDURAS.  NOW AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY CALLED BELIZE.

  OUR GOVERNMENT IN BELIZE CANNOT DEAL WITH SUCH TREACHEROUS NEIGHBORS.

Great granddaughter wins Canadian child beauty pageant.

My granddaughter Tamara A, is nuts about baby pageants.  This is her daughter, my GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER Gemma winning one recently.

2013 CROSS COUNTRY CANOE RACE IN BELIZE called the Ruta Maya. Held in March each year.

2013  Early morning start for the RUTA MAYA CROSS COUNTRY, ANNUAL 3 DAY RACE ACROSS THE WIDTH OF BELIZE FROM SANTA ELENA TOWN TO THE PORT CITY ON THE EAST COAST.

Dog pets photos and new puppy.

TINY OUR YOUNG DOG HAD A SMALL LITTER OF WHICH THERE IS ONLY ONE SURVIVOR HERE.  EYES JUST OPENED THIS WEEK.  Dogs are for Gustavo, Silvia and Ray

The beach bum career in Belize. Life careers not found in colleges and Universities.

It's a hard life living a beach bum life on the Great Barrier Reef.  But somebody has to do it?

This blog jumped over 50,000 hits per month.

THIS BLOG MADE A BIG JUMP IN DAILY AND MONTHLY VISITS to over 50,000 a month or around 5000 a day.   Have no clue why, other than it is winter?

BELIZE OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO VENEZUELA ON DEATH OF CHAVEZ.

Venezuela through President Chavez was a very good friend to Belize.  We extend our condolences from Belize and hope our relationship will remain friendly and cordial with Venezuela as they change their government.  We now have historic ties and memories of much goodwill between our countries.

Belizean family on vacation near capital of Belmopan at Jaguar Paw Lodge, cave tubing

BELIZEAN FAMILY VACATIONING AT JAGUAR PAW RUBBER RAFT TRIP IN CENTRAL BELIZE.  NOT TOO FAR FROM THE CAPITAL BELMOPAN.

 

Grandson photo Cody on Auxillou property, on Caye Caulker

CODY, ONE OF MY SINGLE MALE GRANDSONS.  SORRY GIRLS HE IS NOT GETTING MARRIED BEFORE 32 YEARS OF AGE.

 

Auxillou Trust properties for tourist rentals on Caye Caulker beach.

Auxillou Trust properties on beach at Caye Caulker, Belize offer some of the best rentals on the island.  Sea front beach.

GUATEMALA DECLARED BOUNDARIES BETWEEN BRITISH HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA IN TREATY OF 1859

On April 30, 1859 The Convention between Her Majesty and The Republic of Guatemala relative to the boundaries of British Honduras was signed.

"Beginning at the mouth of the River Sarstoon in the Bay of Honduras and proceeding up the mid-channel thereof to Gracias a Dios Falls; then turning to the right and continuing by a line drawn direct from Gracias a Dios Falls to Garbutt's Falls on the Belize River, and from Garbutt's Falls due north until it strikes the Mexican frontier."
"All the territory to the north and east of the line of boundary above described belongs to Her Majesty,and all the territory to the south and west of the same belong to the Republic of Guatemala."

USA run Belize Coast Guard utter failure in Belize in protecting conservation of sustainable fisheries, from Honduras and Guatemalan poachers.

BELIZE COAST GUARD FAILS TO DO IT'S JOB?

FISHING POACHERS FROM GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS FREELY RAID AND DEPLETE THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES IN BELIZE.

  THE USA FINANCED BELIZE COAST GUARD, AN UTTER FAILURE TO PROTECT THE FISHERIES OF BELIZE.

FLORIDA HOUSE PRICES REACH PRE-BOOM HIGH PRICES IN 2013

DADE COUNTY, SOUTHERN FLORIDA

SUNDAY NEWSPAPER REAL ESTATE SALES INDICATE HOUSE PRICES ARE:  THE SAME PRICE AS; OR EVEN HIGHER BEFORE THE REAL ESTATE CRASH.

  ASSOCIATED JOBS IN HOUSE BUILDING ON RISE AND BUSINESS IS PICKING UP

GRASSROOTS GUATEMALANS AND BELIZEANS ARE STRENTHENING ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TIES, DESPITE INVASION AND OCCUPATION AGGRESSIVENESS OF GUATEMALA POLITICS

POLITICAL POWER GRAB FOR BELIZEAN CONQUEST, CHOSEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GUATEMALA OVER PARTNERSHIP ECONOMIC GROWTH.  GRASS ROOTS LEVEL CONTACTS FOR BUSINESS BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA STILL GOES AHEAD.

 ar 1, 2013

Guatemalan Mayor in Belize; Sister City Relations established

Belizeans are not exactly happy with neighboring Guatemala right about now given the upcoming October sixth referendum and this week’s fiasco with the national basketball selection in Peten. The referendum will decide whether the Guatemalan claim to Belize’s territorial land should be taken to the International Court of Justice for final settlement. But despite the current climate, today the Belize City Council hosted a delegation from San Benito, Peten and Guatemala City. The delegation consisted of Mayor Sonia Rivera and councilors of San Benito as well as members of Congress from Guatemala City.  And this afternoon at the City Hall, an agreement on the establishment of a Sister City Relationship was signed between Belize City Mayor, Darrell Bradley and Mayor Rivera. The event is almost a case of déjà vu as back in January, Mayor Bradley and his colleagues were welcomed with open arms and treated with love in San Benito, Petén. Both mayors, in their address spoke of the linkages between both cities. In fact, Mayor Rivera lived in Belize for seventeen years, has two sisters living in the village of Cotton Tree and her daughter goes to school here in Belize. A formal declaration of friendship was also handed over to Rivera on behalf of the Council.

Darrell Bradley

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
“When we went to San Benito, we were there on the anniversary of the founding of San Benito. And it was shared with us that the city of San Benito was founded by Belizeans and out very own deputy mayor’s grandmother is from San Benito. So it is significant that at this time we form a relation with someone who is so very much like us. And in the larger scope of things I think that is how peace is achieved. That we would realize that beyond all political differences; beyond all challenges that we face, there is one thing that always binds us together and that is our common humanity.”

Sonia Rivera

Sonia Rivera, Mayor, San Benito Petén, Guatemala
“My brothers and sisters of Belize, we are going forward; we will find the peace one day, but remember god is first. God is first. Things are going to change in Belize and this is not a casualty. This is in the plans of god and god has the control over both cities and both countries. For me it is really an honor and really a blessing to be with you today to sign an agreement of the relationship between both cities and we gonna do great things. You will continue hearing from San Benito and San Benito will be hearing from Belize City. So thank you very much; we feel so welcome and if you treat us like this we will continue coming again.”

Darrell Bradley
“We have already been talking about various housing projects and exchanges in culture and our intention is that we should have regular exchanges with the city of San Benito. So I want to extend on behalf of the people of Belize City, our hand of friendship to Alcaldesa Sonia Rivera to the members of the Guatemalan congress, to the councilors of the council of San Benito, to the people of San Benito and to the people of Guatemala.”

Sonia Rivera
“We are going for bigger things, this is the beginning. Thank you so much and we are here and there to serve you.”

During the three day stay in the Jewel, the delegation will travel to various municipalities throughout the country. The delegation returns to Guatemala on Sunday.

GUATEMALA PRESIDENT CHOOSES WAR LIKE ATTITUDE WITH BELIZE, RATHER THAN BUILD OUR TWO ECONOMIES AS PARTNERS

GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT CHOOSES CONFRONTATION OVER PEACEFUL ECONOMIC JOINT DEVELOPMENT WITH BOTH COUNTRIES OF BELIZE AND GUATEMALA SUPPORTING EACH OTHER IN BUILDING OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS?

Guat president to establish new advisory body on Belize affairs

Features — 26 February 2013 — by Adele Ramos

La Comisión de Belice dissolved because the body failed to inform him of 2008 change in the Belize Referendum Act

“La Comisión de Belice queda disuelta…”

“The Commission on Belize is dissolved…”

“…both sides had assumed a positive outcome, meaning a ‘yes’ vote, in the referendum, and neither they nor the special agreement contemplated what would happen should voters disapprove of the ICJ route for resolution.”

Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina took a drastic measure last Thursday, February 21, when he disbanded La Comisión de Belice, an information/advisory agency on Belize matters which has existed inside the Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more than 25 years, after an investigation indicated that it “neglected” its duty to inform their government of the 2008 change in the Belize Referendum Act.

The change in Belize’s law was no secret, as it was hotly debated in Belize’s Parliament and it was furthermore, the subject of fierce public litigation in Belizean courts.

Near the end of last month, January, Molina ordered an investigation into the proceedings of the Comisión de Belice, as they pertain to the question of settling the territorial differendum at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He instructed that the results should be turned over to him within 15 days.

Last Thursday, after being apprised of the results of that investigation, Molina ordered the disbanding of the Comisión de Belice. The president has also ordered the establishment of a new advisory body on Belize matters and Guatemala’s Minister of Foreign Relations, Luis Fernando Carrera, announced administrative interventions to be made at the Guatemala Embassy here in Belize, which the investigation has also faulted with neglecting its responsibility to keep the Guatemala government informed, an official statement announced.

Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alfredo Martinez, indicates that public concerns have been expressed in Guatemala over the US$32 million which Guatemala has programmed to spend on the referendum, slated to be held simultaneously with Belize on Sunday, October 6, 2013, at which time voters would decide whether the dispute should be settled at the ICJ or not.

Some persons are concerned that all those financial resources, which could be better spent on social programs, would be wasted if the 60% threshold set out in Belize’s amended Referendum Act is not met, he explained.

“Our public response when asked, is that the whole thing was in the public domain and we took it for granted that they knew, so why make an issue of it? Besides, it is our sovereign law,” said Martinez.

The Guatemalan government claims it was unaware of the change made in early 2008—well before the signing of the ICJ special agreement—and it was only informally advised in 2011. Its informants are being reprimanded for allegedly neglecting their duties to keep them abreast of developments on the Belize front.

“The change in the Belize legislation, which introduced a requirement for (voter) participation of at least 60% to validate the result of the referendum, occurred during the 2008 negotiations—5 months before the signing of the Special Agreement at the OAS,” the statement added. (Guatemala’s law sets no minimum and the simple majority rule would apply.)

Chief Executive Officer in the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexis Rosado, said that Guatemala did ask Belize if there is any possibility of removing the 60% requirement from the act, but Belize indicated that it would not, and furthermore, explained that the changes to the referendum act were contemplated well before negotiations for the ICJ special agreement.

Rosado said that this is really a non-issue, since voter turnout in Belize is customarily in the region of 70%.

CEO Rosado said that this latest development has no bearing on the Belize-Guatemala differendum, as it is entirely an internal administrative matter for Guatemala.

Nonetheless, Guatemala’s official statement said that Molina is lobbying the OAS to use its offices to restore good faith relations between the parties, to pursue the objective set out in the special agreement, to resolve the matter via the ICJ.

Minister Carrera, appointed Guatemala’s Minister of Foreign Relations just over a month ago, announced at a press conference last Thursday that the governments on both sides of the border have committed in good faith to carry out the October 6, 2013, referendum.

However, he castigated the parties charged with the responsibility of keeping the Guatemalan government informed for not warning the country about the change Belize made in 2008, in its referendum act. Their failure, said Carrera, showed that they were careless in carrying out their responsibilities.

As a consequence, Carrera announced, la Comisión de Belice will be replaced. Given the political importance of the Belize issue, the President has decided to create a high-level advisory group on the subject of Belize, composed of ministers and political advisors, who will get legal technical assistance from a range of experts.

According to a statement from the Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the simultaneous referenda are simply an avenue for achieving the objective set out in the December 2008 compromis (special agreement)—that is, to resolve the territorial, insular and maritime differendum between Belize and Guatemala via the International Court of Justice.

The statement said that both sides had assumed a positive outcome, meaning a ‘yes’ vote, in the referendum, and neither they nor the special agreement contemplated what would happen should voters disapprove of the ICJ route for resolution.

Ambassador Martinez said that on the Belize side, should the people vote ‘yes’, the referendum results would then be tabled in the Senate for ‘protocol passage’ before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emits a ratification notice to Guatemala. On the Guatemala side, the referendum results would be transmitted through Molina’s office before going to the Ministry of Foreign Relations for the preparation of their ratification note.

Belize has already initiated its public education process; however, according to Ambassador Martinez, Guatemala has said it would hold out until three months before the referendum date to commence theirs. The referendum is due in just under seven and a half months.

Meanwhile, our newspaper understands that on the Guatemalan side, there is infighting over the ICJ process, and despite the ‘yes’ votes assumed by the compromis, very powerful factions are divided over whether the matter should even go to the ICJ.

There will continue to be bilateral meetings, via OAS channels, between Belize and Guatemala as the months ensue; however, we understand that a date has not yet been fixed for their next official meeting.

BELIZE TO INCREASE NATIONAL DEBT A MINIMUM OF $130 MILLION N 2013.

NEW BELIZE BUDGET SHOWS HOW ROLLOVER GOVERNMENT FINANCING INCREASES THE NATIONAL DEBT, YEAR BY YEAR.  FOR THIS COMING YEAR THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN NATIONAL DEBT IS EXPECTED TO BE AT LEAST ANOTHER $130 MILLION OF BORROWING AGAINST THE FUTURE.

 

2013 national budget to be presented today, Friday

Highlights — 01 March 2013 — by Adele Ramos

Even with super-bond savings, financing gap is nearly $130 mil

“…a statutory instrument will be presented to amend the Sports Act, to expand the gamut of doping tests to be administered in Belize.”

At around 10:00 this morning, the House of Representatives is scheduled to convene for the presentation of the proposed national budget by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dean Barrow.

Amandala understands from an official source that the budget book was still being published by Print Belize as we went to press Thursday night, but it should be available first thing today.

Multiple government sources indicate to Amandala that the numbers in this year’s budget are not much different from last year’s.

The proposed recurrent revenue for the new budget is $823 million, compared to $819 million for the outgoing year; whereas recurrent expenses are estimated at $777.9 million for the upcoming financial year, compared to $727.7 million for 2012-2013.

The financing gap was estimated at $139 mil for 2012-2013, and the new budget could have a financing gap of $129 mil, if current estimates hold.

Amortization of debt will require another $64 million. This figure, we were told, was derived based on the new terms of the renegotiated super-bond.

The budget deficit is also projected at roughly $60 million, or just about 2% of GDP.

Amandala tried to get comment from the Ministry of Finance about the new budget; however, the Financial Secretary sent a message to us indicating that he was busy.

Meanwhile, the unions will be listening to the budget presentation to see what’s in it for workers. The Barrow administration has hinged a future pay raise for teachers on budget performance.

Dylan Reneau, president of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, told our newspaper that there was no consultation with the unions during the budget preparation process.

He said that one of the things that concern the union is recurrent revenue, since it is critical for the salary negotiations.

“It would have been nice to see what sort of measures government will put into effect to try and ensure greater efficiency in revenue collection,” said Reneau. “We also wanted to see where government is taking onboard [measures for efficiency such as] …cuts in operational expenses and rentals. We want to see if there will be a policy statement,” he added.

According to Reneau, one of the measures now in train is the implementation of a fuel card for government vehicles, as part of the government’s vehicle policy.

“Each driver will have a card with a limit of fuel for the month. When that runs out, ‘dawg eat yuh suppa…’” he said.

Reneau also said that the unions will be curious to see what would be the direct cost impact of the renegotiation of the super-bond, and how it will impact government’s overall deficit and amortization of payments.

Apart from the presentation of the national budget, the House will receive the National Youth Development Policy launched this Wednesday, as well as several papers which include the Ombudsman’s reports for 2010-2012, and the Contractor General’s reports for 2011-2013.

Furthermore, a statutory instrument will be presented to amend the Sports Act, to expand the gamut of doping tests to be administered in Belize.

The budget debate is slated for March 21 and 22, and the Senate is expected to meet the week after to review the proposed national budget. The new budget is to take effect April 1, 2013.

GUATEMALA FISHING FLEET INVADE BELIZE TERRITORIAL WATERS, PREMATURELY.

AMANDALA NEWSPAPER REPORTS ICJ INVASION AND OCCUPATION PLAN, BY GUATEMALA ALREADY IS REAPING RESOURCES OF THE SOUTHERN WATERS OF BELIZE EACH NIGHT.  No referendum yet for ICJ but already Guatemala invades shrimp fisheries of Southern Belize forbidden to Belize fishermen in the name of conservation.

Guatemalan trawlers seen in Belizean waters

Headline — 01 March 2013 — by Miriam Longsworth

Reports were made repeatedly, but GoB acts as if it “couldn’t care less”

There were reports last week Monday that about 20 Guatemalan trawlers had been spotted operating in the waters of southern Belize, south of Punta Gorda, but word to us at press time tonight, Thursday, is that the trawlers are still in what is believed to be Belizean waters.

Punta Gorda activist and leader of the People’s National Party, Wil Maheia, told us tonight that this is a regular occurrence whenever the weather is good, as it is now.

“We have reported this time and again to our Belizean authorities,” he told us, “but nothing is ever done – the Guatemalans do as they like.”

Maheia said that he blames the lack of enforcement in the area for the repeated acts of illegal trawling by the Guatemalans. It is for this reason that Maheia started his activism, because he feels that there is no official concern for what is happening in that area.

This incident only brings to mind the situation Belize and Guatemala are in as they prepare their countries for what could be one of the biggest historical events in both countries, the October 6, 2013 referendum on the matter of taking the territorial, maritime and insular dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Guatemalan citizens have routinely entered Belize illegally and stolen our xate, rosewood and other valuable trees, killed our protected wildlife, destroyed large tracts of our pristine forests, and in general, have done whatever they wanted in a country that is not theirs.

As if these things are not enough, the Guatemalans were caught doing a method of fishing that is prohibited in Belize – trawling. Trawling has been banned in Belize since 2010, largely through the efforts of Oceana Belize.

Oceana Vice-President Audrey Matura-Shepherd said that the illegal trawling seems like an act of aggression by the Guatemalans.

“All I can say is that we view it as an act of aggression from the Guatemalans against us, one,” Matura-Shepherd said. “And two, it is obviously the duty of our law enforcement authorities to make sure that the ban that was instituted is enforced.”

She added that Oceana is only an NGO, and they do not have enforcement powers, so it is up to the Government to enforce the laws through the coast guards and rangers down South.

“The important thing with that, however, is that these poachers or illegal fishers will come at night, when obviously our patrol is not out,” she said. “So we have to be more strategic in how we decide to go after them. We definitely need, as the NGO that pushed for this ban, to make sure that enforcement in possible.”

Matura-Shepherd said the Maritime Areas Act cannot trump our Constitution, because our Constitution shows clearly what constitutes our territory.

“The Sapodilla Range is part of our territory, although the Maritime Act did not take the full claim,” she said. “You have to remember that the Constitution is above that. And even [if done] in that good faith, it doesn’t mean that the Guatemalans can come in and do anything in our territory.”

Matura-Shepherd said she thinks there are lots of overlaps and misunderstandings as to what people believe the Maritime Act allows.

“But whatever your doubt is, we assure there is only one answer to it all, your Constitution is your supreme law,” she said. “We’re entitled to our 12 nautical miles, not three, and that means that Guatemalans have no right to come and trawl or do any kind of illegal fishing in our waters, except if we give them the license.”

BELIZE DEBT RESTRUCTURING DEAL WATCHES JAMAICA SINK INTO THE ABYSS

BELIZE PONDERS JAMAICAN DOWNWARD ECONOMICAL SPIRAL, NOW IN 50 TH YEARS.

Jamaica in second crisis debt-swap plan

Posted by admin on Feb 18, 2013 in World | Comments Off

Jamaica has announced plans for its second debt swap in three years in the face of a “serious economic crisis”.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is taking measures to reduce its debt, which currently stands at 140% of gross domestic product (GDP), one of the highest ratios in the world.
“If this debt is not reduced, Jamaica faces a dismal future,” she said.
The move is aimed at satisfying conditions demanded in a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
About 55% of government spending goes towards paying the nation’s debt, while 25% goes on wages. That leaves just 20% for everything else – including education, security and health.
In a televised address, Ms Simpson Miller, who belongs to the People’s National Party (PNP), said a national debt exchange would be launched.
The administration will offer a swap of higher-interest debt for lower-cost debt and will require “significant sacrifices” from financial institutions and domestic bond holders.
The move follows an earlier debt restructuring in 2010 under the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government.
Since many bondholders already took a hit in 2010, Finance Minister Peter Phillips acknowledged that they were likely to be disappointed, but urged them to accept the offer.
He said it should reduce the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio by 8.5% a year until 2020.
Jamaica has been negotiating a loan with the IMF for the past year. As part of the agreement, the country must reduce debt, as well as the government wage bill.
This implies “significant austerity in the public sector” according to Laurence Allan, Latin American and Caribbean analyst at IHS Global Insight.
He says that “Simpson Miller faces a massive challenge” in getting the reforms through and that many “poor and ordinary Jamaicans view Jamaican elites as those who caused the debt problem and, conversely, who have suffered the least from its consequences”.
Jamaica is one of a number of Caribbean countries struggling with a growing debt burden amid falling tourism revenues.
Much of the region depends on tourists from Europe and the US for its income, but the global financial crisis has cut visitor numbers severely.
Last year, Belize, another member of the Caricom regional trade bloc, came close to defaulting on a $550m “superbond” that represents half its public debt.
But in December, Prime Minister Dean Barrow said that bondholders had agreed “in principle” to a restructuring deal.
               ____________________________________________________

the ONLY way out of the BELIZE DEBT CRISIS SITUATION is growing the GDP.  This in turn needs a re-orientation toward light manufacturing exporting.  So far, the civil service have shown a remarkable lack of ability to do this.  Be it bureaucratic leadership performance, political leadership, or start up generation by innovative education, from the University of Belize.

BELIZE 2012 TOURIST ARRIVAL STATISTICS

Tourism arrivals up in 2012

Posted by admin on Feb 25, 2013 in Business | Comments Off

Kudos are in order for Belize’s tourism industry which reported a 10.7 percent increase in overnight arrivals.
The figures for last year show that there 277,135 visitors, which is 26,872 more than in 2011.
Of these, 63.7 percent were from the United States while only 8.7 percent were from Canada. Overnight arrivals peaked at 32,240 visitors last March, with a second peak of 31,346 visitors in December.
Airport arrivals were up 16.3 percent with 211,747 tourists landing at the Philip Goldson International Airport.
Airport arrivals also peaked at with 25,982 visitors in March, with a second peak of 23,312 visitors in December.
This was much better than several of our regional competitors, such as Cayman Islands, where arrivals were up a modest 4.1 percent; Antigua & Barbuda where arrivals increased only 2.3 percent; Barbados, where arrivals fell 5.5 percent, and Grenada where arrivals fell 5.1 percent.
The cruise lines scheduled fewer ship calls in 2012, so cruise arrivals to Belize fell 12 percent to 640,734 visitors, although arrivals at the beginning of the year were up 34.9 percent in comparison to January 2011.
Arrivals were also up 24.4 percent in February compared to 2011. There was also a summer peak of 9.6 percent in July. Belize’s cruise partners have assured the Belize Tourism Board that Belize can expect to see growth in 2013.
Cruise arrivals fell across in the Caribbean and Belize did not do so badly compared to some of our regional competitors, such as Grenada where cruise arrivals fell 21.7 percent, Barbados were cruise arrivals were down 15.2 percent; Antigua & Barbuda where arrivals fell 9.1 percent, and the Cayman Islands where arrivals fell 7.1 percent.

RAPE OF ROSEWOOD EXOTIC LUMBER SPECIES CONTINUES IN TOLEDO DISTRICT OF BELIZE.

From the Reporter weekly newspaper.  Rape of the Rosewood tree resources continues in Toledo District.

                 ________________________

Rosewood plunder continues undeterred, despite Moratorium

Posted by admin on Feb 18, 2013 in General | Comments Off

Almost a year ago, Minister of Forestry, Lisell Alamilla, signed a Moratorium banning all harvesting of Rosewood from Belizean jungles, and, following a sizable find in January, she burned several flitches of the precious wood.
Alamilla has earned a few choice nicknames since the controversial burning, but she has stood her ground where the wanton harvesting of the precious wood is concerned.  Yet it appears that the symbolic destruction was nothing more than just that because in an interview with reporters, she admitted:
“We continue to find Rosewood. There are regular reports. We’re confiscating 20, 30 flitches at a time, so the amount of Rosewood that we have on our hands is increasing almost on a weekly basis and we definitely have to put something to Cabinet for them to consider,  so that decisions won’t lie with just my Ministry.”
The Forest Department still has two container loads of illegally harvested wood on its compound awaiting the completion of investigations.
Wilbur Sabido, Chief Forest Officer, said that  in one of the containers, confiscated in January from the Port compound, were found  Zericote “in round or log form.  That is against the law, essentially. Zericote is a protected species; It can only be exported as a value -added product. So in that particular instance we seized the wood in the container. The exporter is a known exporter to us. He goes by the name of Anita Lou based originally out of Roaring Creek and now operating out of Orange Walk.”
In the other case, two containers found in the yard at Belize Engineering Limited contained roughly 15,000 board feet of rosewood.  Sabido said that the exporter “goes by the name of Kambo Kin. Two persons  registered that particular company. I can only recall the name of one; it’s Pererra.
In this particular instance we have only managed to make contact through the broker, Mr. Raul Cawich. It’s through him and with the DPP we are working to see how we can make contact with the actual owner of the material.”
As for a third load confiscated in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Sabido said that case is slightly more sophisticated in nature specifically because “it’s still in customs’ custody and because customs gives a time period for the owner of the material to present legitimate documents.
If within a particular period of time they cannot present the documents, then the Controller of Customs can  move to seize the property.
“Also at the same time because we suspect that the material is of Guatemalan origin, we contacted the Guatemalan authorities and they are very much concerned about the fact that they have a container with rosewood of Guatemalan origin ending up in the customs area.”
To add to the scenario, Charles Rivas, a Forest Ranger stationed in Toledo for a few years, has been transferred to another location pending the outcome of his alleged involvement in the Rosewood trade.
Minister Alamilla said, “Unfortunately when you deal with public officers you have to be very careful about how you manage any allegation brought against them because you just can’t dismiss them like that…so we have taken him out of the area to ensure that if those allegations are true, that we have removed him from Toledo.”
The investigation continues to determine whether or not Mr. Rivas was indeed involved in the illegal trade and if so, what penalties he will face.

WESTERNBELIZEHAPPENINGS BLOG HITS FOR FEBRUARY 45,027

BLOG STATISTICS FOR MONTH OF FEB. 2013

45,027 HITS.

55 years of the beach bum life on Caye Caulker. It could have been worse.

MIAMI AND FLORIDA STILL HAVE LAWS AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDE.

THE BACKWOODS STATE OF FLORIDA AND ANCIENT RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE LAST CENTURY, THE PHOBIA, OR TABOO ABOUT ASSISTED SUICIDE.

Miami and State of Florida, still have laws against assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

  Just the got the word today, that neither by surgery or radiation and chemo, my cancer cannot be cured by either method.  I have to wait it out, to spread more, and kill me by other means.  At the moment, it is considered too big a tumor for effective treatment.  These are the results by the best doctors in the land supposedly, here in Miami.

  The dreadful thing, is the absence of choice of death, at a time and place the patient decides.  There is no alternative choice.  No dignity end of life assisted suicide clinics to go to.  They apparently are illegal?  I would never have thought Florida was such a WHACKO state?  This is a relic of a more religious time, when religionists made the laws, a hundred years ago.  Feudal and not fitting for a modern secular society.  WHAT DO I DO NOW?
  Terminal cancer and pain growing day by day.  THIS IS CRAZY LEGAL STUFF!

  I envisioned when it was hopeless, of having a farewell party with 7 children, 14 grandchildren around me, hugs and kisses, some cake and ice,cream and shared wonderful memories of a life well spent.  Then taking a needle, or a drink that would put me to sleep, cheerful, painless and peaceful, forever, in the loving embrace of my family.  A time of celebration, a farewell party, like a Caribbean WAKE, before the event sort of thing.

  Instead I'm sentenced by the legal system to some weeks and months of unrelenting pain, loss of ambulatory power and control of my body and circumstances.  What kind of shit is this?

  Me at 75 years going on 76 years.  See tumor on side of neck a few months back,with my daughter Sharon, who has been driving me around from doctor specialist, to doctor specialist, hospitals, making appointments, threading the slow bueaucratic process of Florida supplementary medicaid. The tumor is growing and spreading over to the other side of the neck now.  The pain is extreme, totally on pain pills all the time. Pet Scan and MRI review today, showed it would not be possible for surgery to cure.  Too big, aggressive, malignant and advanced.  Same story for radiation and chemo treatment.  I'm shocked the medical and legal system has left me stranded without choices. I don't mind dying at my age while in control of my choices.  After talking to other old people, no wonder the National Debt is so huge?  In wheelchairs and walkers, people on medicare and medicaid; they say they are being prevented from assisted suicide.  The medical machine must keep you alive even if you don't want to, in pain, until eventually you suffer a natural death. Some organ failure or something.  Nobody dies of cancer anymore.  It is usually organ failure caused by cancer.  The statistics are screwy. The tumor is twice this size now, and still growing.

  CURSE THE LEGAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN !


Comments:

 And just so you know, the most fun I've had in my life is as a direct result of being Ray Auxillou's daughter.  I am your child, no two ways about it.  I love you, dad.

On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 11:09 AM, Wendy Auxillou <wauxillou@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree with you 100%.  No one, before they are brought into this world, is asked whether he or she wants to make the journey or not.  We have no choice.  We are dragged here kicking and screaming.  Having made the journey, if that individual decides that he or she doen't want to continue it, that should be his or her free choice as well.  The decision to exit this world at one's own timing without having to explain to anyone why they want to, or being stigmatized for doing so, should be a natural right.  And I mean a human right, not just a right for the terminally ill.
                                    __________________________________________

Big hugs to you dad. I can understand the frustration and sense of helplessness. We do enjoy having you around so if there is medication that will help with the pain, that would be a good place to start.  Clear heads prevail.

Much love!

XOX

Island Cheers,

Diane Auxillou--------------------------------------------------

Tel: (USA) +312-890-4006

EMail: staycayecaulker@yahoo.com

_________________________________________

Vacation Rentals: www.staycayecaulker.com 

Caye Caulker Realty: www.mycayecaulker.com 

                              ___________________________________________________________

 IMMUNOCAL is known to shrink tumors quickly 5-6 packs a day for as long as possible but you should see results 2-3 months mix the Immunocal with yogurt is the best TRY IT you don't have anything to loose !

You never read all the info I sent you on this Just try IT !

I ordered some for my momma and she will be doing 3-4 packs a day when she comes back from Portugal. Her Radiologist told her if she took the Immunocal she will live longer it's in the Canadian CPS Book AND it's also in the American AMA book )I think It's the AMA the doctors Bible ASK the doctors to check blood work for your Glutathione level I suspect it's way low considering the size of tumor -If this is so you know it is because of the Glutathione Start it right away and please don't be so stubborn to try it !

Love you gramps

Isabelle

                    ___________________________________________________
From Sharon:

 Dad, much Love to you always.  Glad you are my father, and that you were there and are here to shape who I am today. Happy that I got to share with you over the years many  great and beautiful adventures and misadventures, joy and happiness, life lessons and special family time.
                  __________________________________________________________

East Indian beauty pageant from Forest Home, Toledo, Belize 2013

1st Annual Miss East Indian Cultural Pageant and Toledo has it representative. Introducing Miss Shaniah Coleman. For more information on how to help out, show your support and be apart of the pageant contact Mirths Duncan!

Helping with preservation of culture and history. Good Luck!! Let's show our support!

Fighting cancer cells comes down to DIET ?

LATEST CANCER INFORMATION
from Johns Hopkins

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY …


1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.


11. An effective way to battle cancer is to STARVE the cancer cells by not feeding it with foods it needs to multiple.

What cancer cells feed on:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Note: Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.


b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells will starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes t o nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.

To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water--best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines will become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor.

Anger, unforgiving and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

Jalacte Belize village, Santa Cruz, Guatemala village straddling border line in BELIZE

The Dubious Border At Jalacte
posted (February 22, 2013)

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As we told you earlier in the newscast, the Guatemalans have sent a diplomatic note urging the Belizean government to intervene and stop Will Maheia and his Belize Territorial Volunteers from commencing with their project called "Clearing Our Borderline". It starts in Jalacte which is an area we visited with Maheia in 2008. At the time there was a dispute about a warehouse which a Guatemalan businessman had placed in Belizean territory. It took months to get that removed - even though it was squarely in Belizean territory. The businessman was form Santa Cruz Guatemala which is the Guatemalan village adjoining Jalacte in Belize. Through commerce and daily life, they are like sister villages, and they have established a much used - though unregulated border crossing. When we went there, we found out how difficult it is to two the border line. Tonight we repeat only a small excerpt of that story that noted the contrasts and the similarities between Jalacte Belize and Santa Cruz Guatemala.

Unlike Jalacte, it has electricity and Belizean shoppers come here for Gallo beers, and cheap products. The village - or most of it - is in Guatemalan territory - the cemetery for example is believed to be inside Belizean territory. But it's a fine, widely unknown line, and the entire village exists under the eye of the BDF treetops observation post - the sole indicator of Belize's domain in the area.

It is ground they are holding in hostile territory, the Guatemalans resent the military's presence, and after taping for few minutes it was made clear to us by a group of village leaders that our presence was also not welcome.

Back in Jalacte and after recovering from the grueling trek back under the midday sun, I considered this village, a small trading outpost, its jarring juxtapositions between of Guatemalan and Belizean branding, the commanding Guatemalan phone tower on the borderline, the fact that my phone had switched over from Telemedia to service from the Guatemalan phone company TIGO, which is the only phone service this and surrounding villages get - where by the way, they offer triple-up, not double up as we found out when this young Jalacte woman was putting in credits for her Guatemalan phone.

And moving as freely as phone signals, everyday the BDF looks on as scores of Belizeans and Guatemalans go back and forth between Jalacte and Santa Cruz. Their job is to hold the line - a line not marked in any way, a line whose true location is known only to technicians who use GPS devices, a line that is a good few hundred feet west of, behind this structure. It is either a matter for grave concern, or earnest hope.

Edgar Savedra,
"We live as a community in friendship. That is why we don't have any problems, we live in peace."

Wil Maheia,
"Every year Belize gets smaller and smaller because the road that we just came on, that is clearly inside Belizean territory and the people living there are Guatemalans. They think they are living inside of Guatemala, yet they are living on Belizean territory."

Ferdie's Brother,
"Belizeans with Guatemala, we are friendship. We and Belize, we are friends but I don't know what the people think and someday we argue with Belize but I don't know why. I just only want to ask that question, I want to ask somebody: why they noh come friends."

And how the technicians, politicians and diplomats deal with this illegal encroachment will largely determine what happens at the official level - but at the ground level, we suspect the free movement and informal trade will continue because these are neighbors and no policy or referendum can dictate their co-existence.
Maheia says he and his volunteers with their 100 machetes plan to start their clear the border drive in Jalacte at 8:00 am on Saturday. We imagine that would bring them right into the path of that cemetery we showed you in that story.

Jaguar Capital Management review from Belize.

JAGUAR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

  2011 results over last half of the year when we started were  - 30% of account

  2012  the results over the full year were  + 1%

  2013  the first 2 months of 2013 under a restructuring  reorganization were + 28% of account growth.

  In 2013 we decided to trade only two opposing type option strategies and get to know them good, inside and out.  Essentially types of scalping strategies.  So far, it is working out as expected.  Starting March we will drop one strategy that makes most of the money, as it is far to risky.  Going to stick to the slower growth type, but with lower earning capacity, but far more security conservatism.

European Union offer Masters and Doctorate scholarships to Belizeans

Wendy Auxillou shared Capital NewsPost's photo.

Something you might want to check out, Giselle de la Fuente, Justin M. Kuylen, Cody Kuylen?

There are scholarship opportunities for Belizeans who are interested in a Masters degree or a Doctorate. The scholarships are being offered under the Caribbean...See More

USA Navy seabees join training exercise with Belize Defense Force in Big Creek area

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The U.S. Navy issued the following story:

Sailors disembarked High Speed Vessel Swift 2 here, Feb. 18, to begin Southern Partnership Station 2013, a U.S. 4th Fleet deployment designed to strengthen civil and maritime capabilities with regional partner nations in the Caribbean.

The team was comprised primarily of Seabees from Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 and Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202.

Each team will spend time working with host-nation partners to stregthen relationships and joint interoperability.

CBMU 202 Seabees will build a multipurpose open bay structure, known as a seahut, and provide the materials for up to two additional buildings. RIVRON 2 Seabees will share their expertise with the Belize Defense Force and help them improve their skills in areas such as interdiction and inserts and extracts of security teams on the water.

The two units have separate missions but share a common purpose; to maintain a strong relationship with the Belize Defense Force and share ideas, experience and technology.

"We'll be working with the Belize Defense Force Special Boat Unit," said Riverine Squadron 2 Detachment 2 officer in charge, Navy Lt. Joe Turner. "We will train with them and share ideas and best practices. This enables us to work together better as a unit to fight criminal activities on the waterways and in the rivers."

The mission for the Seabees deployed to Big Creek differs only in the areas of execution.

"We're doing a military-to-military cooperation with our counterparts in the Belize Defense Force," said CBMU 202 officer in charge, Chief Builder Nicholas Whitbeck. "We'll observe, exchange ideas and learn from them and vice versa. We'll also work hand-in-hand with them to improve military infrastructure."

"We are here not only to build a seahut with the Belize Defense Force, but also pass on our knowledge so they can accurately and efficiently build more in the future," said Builder 2nd Class Nathaniel Devincentis, CBMU 202.

The Southern Partnership Station 2013 mission is an important one for the U.S. and partner nation militaries.

"This is an opportunity for us and our partner nations to come together, join efforts and enhance regional maritime security," Cmdr. Bob Poling, Southern Partnership Station mission commander said. "The Caribbean nations and the U.S. share common interests and multinational maritime partnership missions."

"By participating in these regional civil and maritime exchanges, we foster friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding. Working together alongside our partner nations, sharing ideas and professional expertise, we will improve interoperability and enhance the regional maritime security," he said.

"Our end goal is to give the Belize Defense Force what they need to succeed. If they learn it and implement it, then it's a good day for us," said Chief Boatswain's Mate Jason Hatfield, RIVRON 2.

Swift and multinational crew is scheduled to remain in Belize working with the Belize Defense Force until early March.

BELIZE GAL, MOVES FROM CAYE CAULKER TO MALTA AND WRITES A BOOK ON HER EXPERIENCES 2013

BELIZEAN CAYE CAULKER GAL, WRITES BOOK ON LIVING IN MALTA AND GETTING RESIDENCY.  MALTA IS A SMALL ISLAND WITH THE POPULATION OF ALL OF BELIZE.  STILL SMALL AND VERY SCENIC.

  Interesting to note that they use  PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IN MALTA, an ex British Colony.  In Belize neither of the two major political parties want proportional representation, because it is easier for the Cabinet politicians to embezzle money from the tax revenues.

Stranger in Malta: General Elections in Malta

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• General Elections in Malta
• Prinjolata again!
• VAT Lottery
• My new book on how to file for residency in malta is here!

General Elections in Malta Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:52 AM PST The Maltese people will be going to the polls on March 9, 2013 to elect a new Prime Minister.  The incumbent is PM Lawrence Gonzi of the Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista, or PN for short.)  His main rival and challenger in Joseph Muscat of the Labor Party (Partit Laburista, or PL for shot.) The story goes that in 1998 the Labor Party won the election by a majority of one seat.  Once in government, the party leadership behaved very erratically, and eventually the entire government resigned after less than two years into their five year mandate.  General Elections in Malta are held every five years.  Rumor has it that they felt that they would be unable to govern properly given the financial situation of the government at that time. It seems like the people of Malta became disgusted with this turn of events.  At the bye-election, the Nationalist Party won by a large majority and became the new government.  The people of Malta have not forgotten the fiasco.  The Labor Party has not been in power for twenty-five years. The margins between the two parties are dwindling with each subsequent election, though.  At the last election in 2008, the Nationalist Part won by the thinnest of margins.  They are hoping (and praying?) that the jinx will finally be hexed away this election. The Labor Party is predicted to win this election, but only who knows? The government is elected through a process called "Proportional Representation."  It is very different from the U.S. Electoral College system and the Belize "first past the post" system.  Proportional Representation ensures that every vote counts.  No vote is wasted.  How it works, however, will have to be explained in another blog post. There are more than two political parties contesting the election, but the Labor Party and the Nationalist Party are the two major ones. Surprisingly, there are no political billboards or paraphernalia littering the streetside and buildings as one might expect.  Politicians reach party supporters using a "town hall" format.  These are highly attended by party supporters and interested citizens. Each major party has an election party anthem.  I like them both, so will post links to them here, as well as of the party slogans and the candidates. The election slogan for the Labor Party is "Malta Taghna Lkoll" or Malta for all.  The election slogan for the Nationalist Party is Futur fis Sod, which means loosely (I don't speak Maltese) "the future is solid."

Prinjolata again! Posted: 20 Feb 2013 04:58 AM PST Prinjolata is absolutely the most sinful, delightful, decadent, rich, luxurious pastry known to man.  It's virtues cannot be extolled enough. It has a nougat-like texture, and melts like cotton candy in your mouth.  At one Euro for 100 mg, it is the best Euro you will ever spend in your life. Unfortunately, it is only available during the Carnival season, which is now over.

VAT Lottery Posted: 20 Feb 2013 04:49 AM PST Every month, the VAT department conducts a "Fiscal Receipts Lottery."  I highly suspect it is a way to ensure compliance and to catch VAT cheats. All the fiscal receipts which the VAT office receives before the cut off date - which is BEFORE the 13th of the month for all receipts dated the previous month - are put into a big barrel and a drawing takes place. About ten winners are selected each month. The winner receives the equivalent of ten times the amount of VAT he or she paid on the receipt that was drawn.  Some winners have gotten prizes of up to the tens of thousands.  I strongly suspect these are contractors. The minimum prize amount is 233 Euros for receipts with VAT paid totaling less than 50 cents.

My new book on how to file for residency in malta is here! Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:27 AM PST My new how-to book detailing the steps necessary to file for residency in Malta for British Citizens is finally here.  It is available in Kindle form at Amazon.  Here is the link, if you are interested.  I am selling it for the cheapest price Amazon will  let me sell it for, which is GBP 2.49. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BHHX5RU (As of the time of the writing of this blog post, I had to tweak some of the formatting a bit, as it wasn't showing well on some of the ereaders.  Unfortunately, it takes Amazon the better part of 24 hours to update changes, so the link will have to wait a few hours more.)  However, the link is live. OR, just click on the book's cover to go straight to Amazon.  Amazon will open in a new window, so after you check out, come back and finish reading the blog. Get your copy quick and save yourself ton of money in attorney's fees. The book will guide you through all the steps and even provides copies of the forms you will need to fill out so you can have them at your fingertips ahead of time.  Please leave feedback on Amazon.

BELIZE CHALLENGES GUATAMALA TO BUILD OUR FUTURE TOGETHER AND GET RID OF THE ANCIENT GUATEMALAN CONSTITUTIONAL CLAIM.

BELIZE CHALLENGES GUATEMALA TO LIVE IN PEACE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION ACROSS OUR BORDER.   BELIZEAN PEOPLE WANT GUATEMALA TO REMOVE THE OLD ARCHAIC CONSTITUTIONAL AGGRAVATION; IN WHICH IN MORE ANCIENT TIMES, A GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT WARLORD INCLUDED A CONSTITUTIONAL SECTION THAT SAID, BELIZE IS FOR GUATEMALA, OR HALF OF IT IS?

  MODERN DAY BELIZEANS AND GOVERNMENTS ARE CONCENTRATING ON WORKING TOGETHER WITH GUATEMALANS, TO BUILD THEIR RESPECTIVE DEMOCRACIES AND ECONOMIES.  AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS A COMMON FRONTIER WE HAVE MUCH TO GAIN BY WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER.  AS FRIENDS, FAMILY AND PARTNERS.  THIS OLD CONSTITUTIONAL SECTION, IN WHICH A GUATEMALAN WARLORD IN GUATEMALA A LONG TIME AGO, CLAIMED BY ANCIENT LONG FORGOTTEN BRITISH AND SPANISH WAR AGREEMENTS, SHOULD BE INHERITED BY MODERN DAY DEMOCRATIC GUATEMALANS AND BELIZEANS; IS PURE NONSENSE AND HAS NO BUSINESS IN OUR FUTURE. WE CAN BUILD OUR ECONOMIES TOGETHER AS THE SAME FAMILY.

 TOGETHER WE ARE UNITED AND STRONG!  SQUABBLING WITH EACH OTHER MAKES US BOTH WEAKER AND LESS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR DIFFERENCES, TO FACE THE OUTSIDE CHALLENGES OF THE WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE.  IT IS PETTY AND SILLY, THIS GUATEMALAN CONSTITUTIONAL CLAIM AND A DIVIDING FACTOR IN WHAT IS A BUILDING OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS, TO HELP EACH OTHER WITH EXPORT WORLD MARKETS, IN WHICH AS INDEPENDENTS, WE CAN EACH SUPPLY EACH OTHER FROM OUR POOL OF DIVERSE FOREIGN MARKETS, ADVANTAGES WE CANNOT SOLVE ON OUR OWN.

  GET RID OF THAT OLD CLAIM AND LET US BUILD OUR TWO COUNTRIES TOGETHER.  OUR DIFFERENCES MAKE US STRONGER THAN OTHERS.

BELIZE CITRUS PRODUCTION HAS 100 th birthday

CITRUS AS AN EXPORT CROP HAS A CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY.   100 YEARS PRODUCING CITRUS IN BELIZE.

  CITRUS FRUIT OF VARIOUS TYPES REPRESENTS 4% OF OUR GDP.  IT ALSO REPRESENTS 22% OF MAJOR LARGE TYPE EXPORT EARNINGS.